When assessing a patient with a fracture, what is the priority nursing consideration?
Monitoring the patient's pain level
Assessing the neurovascular status of the affected limb
Evaluating the range of motion in nearby joints
Instructing the patient about cast care
The Correct Answer is B
Assessing the neurovascular status of the affected limb is the priority nursing consideration in a patient with a fracture. Checking for pulses, capillary refill, sensation, and motor function helps identify neurovascular compromise, which requires immediate intervention to prevent potential tissue damage and complications.
a. Monitoring the patient's pain level is essential, but it is not the priority over assessing neurovascular status. Pain management can be addressed after ensuring the limb's vascular and neurological integrity.
c. Evaluating the range of motion in nearby joints is important for overall assessment, but it is not as critical as assessing neurovascular status in a patient with a fracture.
d. Instructing the patient about cast care is necessary, but it is not the priority consideration when the patient's neurovascular status is at risk.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
: Educating the patient about signs of neurovascular compromise, such as changes in sensation, color, or temperature of the limb, is essential to ensure early detection of potential complications and timely intervention.
a. Encouraging the patient to bear full weight on the cast immediately is not recommended, as weight-bearing should follow the healthcare provider's instructions, which may involve partial weight-bearing initially.
b. Instructing the patient to elevate the casted limb above the heart can help reduce swelling but may not be the primary focus of discharge teaching for a newly applied cast.
c. Advising the patient to use a heating pad on the cast to relieve discomfort is not recommended, as excessive heat can damage the cast and increase the risk of skin irritation.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A transverse fracture occurs when the bone is completely broken into two separate pieces at a right angle to the bone's long axis.
a. Greenstick fracture: A greenstick fracture is an incomplete fracture where the bone bends and partially breaks, but it does not result in two separate pieces of bone.
c. Impacted fracture: An impacted fracture occurs when the bone ends are forced into each other, commonly seen in long bones such as the femur. It does not involve the bone breaking into two separate pieces.
d. Spiral fracture: A spiral fracture occurs when the bone is twisted, resulting in a spiral-shaped fracture line. It does not involve the bone breaking into two separate pieces.
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